1. Where is U Minh Ha Forest and what makes it unique?

The U Minh Ha National Park is located within the boundaries of four communes in the western Ca Mau provincial districts of U Minh and Tran Van Thoi. The distance from U Minh Ha to Ca Mau's city center, which is reachable by automobile, is around 40 kilometers. One of the three main parts of the Ca Mau Cape Global Biosphere Reserve, the total area of the forest is 8,527 hectares.

This location is well known for its habitat of submerged, alum-formed melaleuca woods on peatland. The ecology is diversified and abundant with more than 250 plant species, 40 animal species, 182 bird species, 20 reptile species, and several additional insect species. It has several rare species recognized in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red Book.

Many people have traveled to U Minh Ha, which demonstrates that it is a desirable location for individuals who prefer to explore nature, take chances, and learn about the flooded forest ecology. Moreover, U Minh Ha Melaleuca Forest was the South's center of operations during the Revolutionary War against the French and the United States.
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2. Contact information for U Minh Ha National Park

Location: Vo Doi Hamlet, Tran Hoi Commune, Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau.
Website address: vuonqgumh.camau.gov.vn.
Contact phone: 0780.391.0020 or 0780.391.0070.

3. Price list of services at U Minh Ha

Entrance ticket: 10,000 VND/ trip.
Rent a boat to visit the forest: 150,000 VND/ person/ hour or 80,000 VND/ person/ 30 minutes.

4. When is the best time to go to U Minh Ha?

The dry and rainy seasons are the two distinct weather divisions in U Minh Ha. The rainy season lasts from November to April the following year, whereas the dry season lasts from May to October. According to the experience of U Minh Ha tourism, visitors can visit and explore this National Park at any time of the year.
When the water is high during the rainy season, it is simpler to navigate the mangrove forest by boat. The dry season, on the other hand, will be more favorable for touring due to the brightness and lack of rain. The dry season will be a better time to visit if you want to explore the ecology or snap check-in shots.

5. Transportation options to U Minh Ha forest

Getting to U Minh Ha National Park is possible in two ways:

Motorbike

You may run along Highway 1A from Ho Chi Minh City to Ngo Quyen Street, Vo Van Kiet, then follow the signposts to the U Minh Ha forest. To prevent getting lost, ask the locals along the route.

Take a bus

Many individuals choose the bus when going to the U Minh Ha jungle. Buses to Ca Mau in Ho Chi Minh City leave from the bus terminal in the East, West, or An Suong. The cost of a passenger ticket typically ranges from 180,000 to 200,000 VND.

6. Accommodation options for visitors to U Minh Ha National Park

Most visitors to U Minh Ha National Park go back in the day, not staying overnight. While there aren't many lodging options close to the forest, you can stay at Ca Mau city's hostels and motels. The travels of U Minh Ha also demonstrate that staying in the city center will make it easier to visit other tourist attractions.

7. Things to do in U Minh Ha: Enjoyable activities

U Minh Ha is a sizable National Park that has been around for many years. You may engage in a variety of interesting activities here, including:

7.1 Observatory's view of U Minh Ha woodland

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You may go to the observatory by using the paved route from the woodland entrance. The observatory is 24 meters tall, and from the top of the tower, one can observe the entire U Minh Ha woodland scene. Also, for those who enjoy checking in, the sky and the enormous river will serve as the setting for "very high quality" photographs.

7.2 Taking a boat out to the forest

Visitors may explore the mangrove forest's beauty and its rich flora and fauna using a boat service at U Minh Ha. Visitors may enjoy the stunning view on both sides while hearing tales about the Southern land reclamation effort while sitting on the boat. U Minh Ha Tourism has found that this watercraft activity is only available during the wet season. Thus, you should contact the National Park administration in advance at the listed phone number.
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7.3 Fishing and taking honey in the forest

On warm summer days, you may rent a boat for 150,000 VND per ticket to go fishing in the jungle. The U Minh Ha forest is tightly protected, thus there is still a lot of wild fish there.
If you're fortunate, you could capture a fish or a snakehead that weighs between 1 and 3 kg. You may also follow the locals into the forest to avoid catching fish, build a shelter to capture eels and gather lotus, basins, bunnies with trumpets, and bunnies without trumpets, among other things.
Honey-sucking bees from melaleuca stamens are particularly prevalent in the U Minh Ha Melaleuca woodland. If you visit the U Minh Ha woodland between December and June, guards will accompany you to the honey grove. More intriguingly, you can also savor the juvenile bee's delicious flavor, which reaches the tip of your tongue and is flecked with yellow honey.

8. What food is available in U Minh Ha National Park?

Visitors will get the chance to sample the local specialties after visiting and touring U Minh Ha. Several items from the forest are well-known, including freshwater fish, brackish water fish, shrimp, crabs, and eels. The legendary U Minh fish sauce hotpot meal, snake tiger onion cooked green bean porridge, or eel um leaf is among the most noteworthy items to highlight. The following are the delectable Ca Mau foods that you must not miss, in the opinion of U Minh Ha tourism:

Specialties from bees

Young bees are taken from a honeycomb that has been squeezed out of honey and used in special dishes at U Minh Ha. Young, fatty bees are turned into bee sauce, bee noodle salad, fried bees, bees cooking green bean porridge, and other dishes with incredibly appealing and peculiar flavors.

Specialties from U Minh Ha forest eel

The U Minh Ha woodland eel is regarded as the pinnacle of Ca Mau freshwater cuisine. Eel meat is solid and supple, many cuisines use it because of its pleasant fragrance. The eel meals are a must-try for tourists to U Minh Ha: fish stewed eel, grated eel with fish sauce, chili stewed eel, turmeric stewed eel, and cooked eel in sour soup.

U Minh Ha fish specialties

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There are several types of field fish in the U Minh Ha forest, including catfish, snakehead fish, colorful fish, perch, and sliced fish. The greatest meals, in some visitors' opinions, are deep-fried snappers, braised perch, grilled snakehead fish, fish sauce hotpot with wild veggies, and fried catfish coated in ginger sauce.

U Minh Ha free-range chicken specialties

The free-range chicken is also a must-try when you visit U Minh Ha. The meat is firm, aromatic, and sweet since the chickens are grown in the garden. Some delectable recipes for your reference made with U Minh Ha free-range chicken include sour cooked chicken, steamed chicken with the banana tree, and shredded chicken combined with corn salad and banana herbs.

9. Considerations for visiting U Minh Ha National Park

• To walk around effortlessly, bring a hat, an umbrella, and comfortable clothing.
• To avoid mosquitoes if you visit during the rainy season, you should dress in long pants and sleeves.
• If you wish to take the boat journey to the U Minh Ha mangrove forest, make an advance call to the Management Board.
• To protect your safety, choose an exit time and avoid spending the night or being alone in the woods.
• In the forest, avoid harming wildlife or cutting down trees.